Different vegetation and soil degradation characteristics of a typical grassland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

This study used a field sampling survey and laboratory analysis to investigate the different characteristics of community structure, above/belowground biomass, plant composition and diversity, root proportions in different soil layers, and soil physiochemical properties between alpine steppes and alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Five degradation stages were identified including non-degradation(ND), light degradation(LD), moderate degradation(MD), severe degradation(SD), and extreme degradation(ED). The results are as follows:(1) as degradation level increased, graminoid dominance in alpine steppes remained unchanged, but sedges in alpine meadows were gradually replaced by the subdominant forb species.(2) With increased alpine steppe degradation, there was a significant decrease in aboveground biomass(P